College Sports

Wisconsin's 7-foot Frank Kaminsky an overnight sensation

Frank Kaminsky, dunking at Wisconsin's practice Friday at the Final Four in Arlington, Texas, grew 7 inches to 6-foot-10 in less than a year. "My biggest battle was with doorways," he deadpanned. "I used to hit my head on every- thing. Learning how to duck was my biggest battle." Saturday, it will be Kentucky. (David J. Phillip, The Associated Press)

ARLINGTON, Texas — Wisconsin coaches and players dismiss any references about differing styles of play between the Badgers and their Final Four opponent Saturday night, Kentucky. After all, this Wisconsin team can play offense with the best of them. But there can be no denying the contrast between Kentucky's five-star thoroughbred freshmen and Frank Kaminsky, Wiscon- sin's 7-foot junior forward.

After three years, Kaminsky has developed into something of an overnight sensation by averaging 22 points in the Badgers' past three NCAA Tournament victories. Out of high school, however, he was considered anything but a blue-chipper.

ANAHEIM, CA - MARCH 27: Josh Gasser #21, Frank Kaminsky #44 and Ben Brust #1 of the Wisconsin Badgers celebrate in the second half while taking on the Baylor Bears during the regional semifinal of the 2014 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at the Honda Center on March 27, 2014 in Anaheim, California. (Getty Images North America | Harry How)

"I came to Wisconsin as kind of an immature, skinny, weak kid," Kaminsky said. "I really have taken steps mentally and physically to try to make myself effective at this level. It took me some time to figure things out. It's been a steady growth from the beginning of the season."

Kaminsky rode the bench for two seasons, averaging less than 10 minutes per game. He began showing his potential last summer by averaging 15 points during Wisconsin's exhibition tour of Canada.

"Frank is the real deal," Badgers coach Bo Ryan said after the trip.

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While some may have rolled their eyes, Ryan saw what others might have missed. Kaminsky can handle the ball better than most 7-footers and has range out beyond the three-point arc. His ball-handling skills come from having played mostly guard through 10th grade, before he grew from 6-3 to 6-10 in less than a year.

"My biggest battle was with doorways," he deadpanned. "I used to hit my head on everything. Learning how to duck was my biggest battle."

Now listed at 234 pounds, Kaminsky has maintained the range of a shooting guard (.378 from 3-point distance this season) because, well, that's what he was for much of his career.

And his athleticism surprises opponents. He darts to open space along the baseline with a quick first step and is able to jump out to the perimeter for an open jumper.

Teammates said they spotted Kaminsky's potential soon after he arrived in Madison.

"Even two summers ago, I saw how good a player he could be," Badgers junior guard Josh Gasser said. "His biggest enemy is himself. He gained some confidence once he got more mature. He always had the skill set and size. But once he became confident, that's when he took off."

In the fourth game this season he scored 43 points in a 103-85 romp over North Dakota. He has come up big against top-level competition too, going for 28 points in a victory at Michigan and 25 points at home against Michigan State.

Kentucky coach John Calipari doesn't give developmental projects like Kaminsky a look. But he's impressed by what he's seen on tape.

"First of all, I stood (next to Kaminsky) to make sure he's really 7-foot tall," Calipari said at the Final Four. "I can tell you, he's 7 feet. He's a better ball handler than you think. He bounces it (jumps) better than you think. He's playing with a swagger right now like: 'None of you can guard me.' That's a challenge in itself."

Calipari said Kentucky will miss injured defensive specialist Willie Cauley-Stein (ankle injury), a 7-foot sophomore who has been among the first reserves off the bench. But nobody should feel sorry for Kentucky's frontcourt, with freshman starters Julius Randle (6-9, 250 pounds) and Dakari Johnson (7-foot, 265) and reserve Marcus Lee (6-9, 215) available to take turns trying to slow Kaminsky.

"Frank the Tank" said he is ready for it.

"I've seen a lot of different ways (for opponents) to play me in this tournament," Kaminsky said. "Teams have tried to put a smaller guy on me and switch ball screens so I couldn't get any shots from outside. Or it's putting a bigger guy on me who's trying to not let me get anything in the post. It's really kind of reading how the defense is playing me."

As for the idea that Kentucky has a big advantage with its talent, Kaminsky said, "We don't consider ourselves underdogs. When people say we're a bunch of white guys that aren't good athletically, that doesn't mean anything to us. We're playing our best basketball of the season."

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